'Gang' aims to unseat Warner

PROVO — What do you call six people who elbowed their way onto Tuesday's primary ballot to challenge a two-term incumbent on the Provo City Council?

Protesters, say the candidates who are gang-tackling Paul Warner in his bid for a third term.

The total of seven candidates makes the race one of the most contested in Utah in terms of sheer numbers. Only South Jordan had more people — eight — file for the same seat. Seven filed for the Sugar House seat on the Salt Lake City Council.

But the five men and one woman opposing Warner in Provo's 2nd District — the northeast area of the city — haven't yet done much to actually try to beat him. They've raised a grand total of zero dollars. Only one, Ray Christensen, has spent any money at all, and he dived into his own wallet to pay the Utah County Clerk $22.65 for a database of registered voters.

The challenge is no lark, however. It's part of a plan hatched at a neighborhood meeting where members of the group expressed concerns about Warner. When nobody stepped forward to challenge the incumbent, they instead agreed to do it as a group to send Warner a message.

The challengers have just completed a joint flier — titled "It's time for a change" — to be circulated over the next few days, and they promise to mount a dead-serious campaign after the primary, where one of the six will emerge with Warner as the top two vote-getters and advance to the Nov. 8 general election.

"Whoever comes out of the primary will receive the support of the other candidates," said Cindy J. Clark, wife of state legislator Stephen Clark.

That isn't to say any of them relishes coming out on top.

"Most of our group of six would be quite happy if somebody else won the primary," Christensen said.

The whole scenario perplexes Warner.

"My understanding is they got upset when I wouldn't roll over" and fully support reducing the number of single people who can rent a home together from three to two, he said. "I was a little nervous about having a citywide rental policy that allowed only two singles to be able to rent a home. I've been supportive of all the other issues in the 'Tree Streets.' As far as I can see, it's a one-issue thing."

At least one challenger admitted the protest was orchestrated over one issue, but Christensen characterized it differently.